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“Treated no differently than disposable commodities, dogs are bred, sold and forced to fight for financial gain or to provide what can only be described as vile entertainment.

“If the current law is to ever serve as a real deterrent to dog fighters or other perpetrators of animal cruelty, the current maximum six month custodial sentence must be increased to at least three years.”

Labour MP Anna Turley, who is spearheading the bid to boost maximum sentences through a Commons Private Member’s Bill, warned “current sentences available to courts to punish animal abuse are not working”.

Anna Turley, MP for Redcar (Image: DAILY MIRROR)

She added: “They often mean the perpetrators of cruel acts towards animals just receive a slap on the wrist.

“If we do not properly punish these people then as a society we are essentially legitimising abuse against animals.

“There are some quite horrific acts of violence and cruelty to animals taking place around the country and the perpetrators clearly have no fear of the law.